FAQ’s

The SIA Door Supervisor training course usually takes 6 to 7 days to complete, depending on the training provider. It involves around 50–60 hours of guided learning, including classroom sessions, practical activities, and assessments. You must also hold a valid Emergency First Aid at Work certificate before starting the course. Once training and exams are completed, you can apply for your SIA licence.

Qualified Door Supervisors who need to renew their SIA licence can complete the Door Supervisor Refresher (Top-Up) course, which usually takes just 2 days. This shorter course updates your knowledge on key areas such as counter-terrorism, physical intervention, and first aid, ensuring your skills remain current and compliant with SIA regulations.

Applying for an SIA Door Supervisor licence in the UK costs £184 for the licence fee, valid for three years. If you apply for multiple licences, you may receive a 50% discount on each additional one, priced at £92. You’ll also need to complete an SIA-approved training course (typically £180–£300) and a first aid certificate (£30–£100), bringing total costs to approximately £400–£600.

The best SIA licence depends on the type of security work you want to do. For most people, the SIA Door Supervisor Licence is the most popular and versatile. It allows you to work in a wide range of roles, including door supervision, manned guarding, retail security, events, and licensed premises. Because of its broad coverage, many choose this as their starting point in the security industry.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) issues several types of licences depending on the role. The five main frontline SIA licences are:

1. Door Supervisor Licence – Allows you to work in venues with alcohol, nightclubs, events, retail, and manned guarding roles.
2. Security Guard Licence – Covers general security roles such as retail, construction sites, and reception security (but not licensed premises).
3. CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) Licence – Required for monitoring public spaces and using CCTV systems for security purposes.
4. Close Protection Licence – For bodyguards and personal protection officers working with high-profile or vulnerable individuals.
5. Key Holding Licence – For professionals who respond to alarms and secure premises outside of business hours.

•  From April 1, 2025, Door Supervisor and Security Guard licences cannot be renewed without completing a refresher course.
  
• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or equivalent is mandatory before taking the refresher.
• Refresher courses now include updated training on search procedures, physical interventions, spiking and terror threat awareness.
•  Licence holders may downgrade licences at renewal if preferred.
  
•  The SIA is moving toward stricter licensing criteria, considering more serious offences and longer criminal history checks.

Yes. As of 2025, all Door Supervisor and Security Guard licence holders must hold a valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate or an equivalent first aid qualification before they can renew their SIA licence. This is required before enrolling in the mandatory refresher (top-up) training, ensuring that all security professionals are prepared to respond effectively to medical emergencies while on duty.

The SIA Door Supervisor refresher (top-up) course typically takes 2 full days to complete. The course is divided into practical and theory sessions, covering updated topics such as conflict management, searching procedures, physical intervention, spiking awareness, and terror threat awareness (ACT/You Can ACT). Most training providers structure it into 4–6 lessons or modules over the two days, combining classroom learning with practical exercises to ensure licence holders are fully prepared for real-world scenarios.

In an SIA Door Supervisor refresher (top-up) course, you revisit key security skills and learn updated procedures to maintain your licence. The course typically includes conflict management, searching techniques, physical intervention, and protecting vulnerable individuals. It also covers spiking awareness, counter-terrorism (ACT/You Can ACT), and emergency response.

The FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) certification is valid for 3 years from the date of completion. After this period, you must complete a refresher course to maintain your certification and ensure your skills and knowledge remain up to date for workplace compliance and emergency response readiness.

Level 3 First Responder training, also known as FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3), is an advanced first aid course designed for healthcare professionals, security personnel, and workplace first responders. It covers patient assessment, managing medical and trauma emergencies, airway management, CPR, and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

The FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) course covers a wide range of emergency care skills. Participants learn patient assessment, CPR, airway management, management of trauma and medical emergencies, and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). It also includes handling shock, bleeding, fractures, and other life-threatening conditions, preparing learners to provide immediate and effective care until advanced medical assistance arrives.

Having a FREC 3 License enables you for mutiple roles that require advanced first aid skills. The most common jobs that are available are healthcare support workers, security personnel, event first responders, offshore and remote site medics and workplace first raiders.

FREC Level 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) is equivalent to a higher-level first aid qualification that meets or exceeds the standards of advanced workplace first aid. It is comparable to FAW (First Aid at Work) Level 3 or Emergency First Response (EFR) advanced courses, but with a stronger focus on patient assessment, trauma management, CPR, and use of AEDs.

• FREC 3 is an intermediate first aid course for workplace first responders, covering CPR, trauma, medical emergencies, and AED use.
• FREC 4 is an advanced course for professionals like paramedics or offshore medics, focusing on advanced life support, extended patient care, and complex emergency management.